U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Tuesday, putting the S&P 500 on track to extend its seven-week winning streak on increased mergers and acquisitions activity.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 2.69 points, or 0.02 per cent, at 13,984.45. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 3.02 points, or 0.20 per cent, at 1,522.81. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 5.50 points, or 0.17 per cent, at 3,197.53.